Automatic phonograph



Nov. 4, 1952 C. G. JOHNSON AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed April 11, 1946 4Sheets-Sheet l Y R 0. mm M Z 0 V T w m T o I A 5 l 416 V. B 3 5 4 WW 7 55 w w wm C. G. JOHNSON AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Nov. 4, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed April 11, 1946 ATTORNEY 1952 c. JOHNSON 2,616,704

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed April 11, 1946 v I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I F"!I}""""T Nov. 4, 1952 c, JOHNSON 2,616,704

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH .Filed April 11, 1946 4 sheets sheet 4 HMlllllllllllllllllIllllllllllllllIIllllllllllllllllllllllll INVENTOR.

- BY Carl E. JZfiILfOIL i y ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 4, 1952 AUTOMATICPHONOGR PH Carl Johnson, Chicago, 111., asslgnot to JP.

Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of IllinoisApplicationAprll 11, 1946, 'selialiNo. 661,299

,4 Claims.

*This invention relates to automatic phonoagraphsand particularly to thetype of record changing automatic phonographs in which :2: stack ofrecords issupportedabove the turntable -.on a stepped post or spindleand on a lateral supp.ort,.thelowermostreoord of the stack beingdischarged periodically so that it drops on to the turntableforreproduction.

In my co-pendlng application Serial Note-2.19:1 .filed .January 19,1946, I have :described -.and zclaimed a phonograph of this general typein which the lateral support .is movable into three positions .forcooperating with :records .101; two difierent sizes and permitremoval-of played records or to permitmanualoperationof the phonograph.'The spindle or post-was adjustable so that in the two playing positionsit provided a record supportingstep on the :opposite side of the spindlefrom the istepand an opposed shoulder, the shoulder :being spaced abovethe level oi athe step in such manner that only the lowermost record:could be displaced into dropping position. The post was "capable ofadjustment into substantial continuity for ease 'in removing .:a stack50f played records or for application of a single .record .manually :onto the turntable'and the manual removal of such a record. The lateralsupport was operatively connected to the post or spindle'sothat ithepostwas stepped when the lateral support was set for playing records of.either size and :thepost was rendered continuous vor non-stepped whenthe lateral support was in :the "unloading or manual position.Meansassociatedwith the :lateral support defined the initial playingposition of the player arm for :records of the size :for which thelateral supportwas set. Means also associated with :the lateral supportprovided an adjustment between the shoulder .and step of the spindle sothat the vertical .space between the step and shoulder was greater whenthe lateral support was set 'for records of larger size than was thecase when-the lateral support was set for records of smaller size, therecords of larger diameter "having greater thicknessthan the records ofsmaller diameter.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improvedphonograph of this type.

A further object :of the invention is to provide an improved spindleadapted to :be addusted into step providing position and intosubstantial continuity. 1

description o! a preferred embodiment thereof,

taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which-:

Figure .1 is :a plan'view of .a'phonograph embodyingmy invention, partofthe turntable and motor rboa-rd being broken away to disclose themechanism;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view'of the phonograph conditioned .:for-the-=automatio playing of a stack vsupport condi ione Jar P ayinten-inch records; I

Fig. '4 is a ffragmentary 'elevational :view :partly in section of thespindle and associated elements, :the spindle being adapted for ,cooperation with :records of larger size;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the lateral support,

partly broken away disclose the mocha nism;

.Fig. -6 is a-fragmentary elevationay view partly in section of elementsassociated :with .the spindle as viewed from therightin Fig. L4;

Fig.7 is an inverted plan view of the phonoraph;

Fig. 8 is a ifragmentary inverted plan view showing the interconnectingelements associated with the lateral support and {the spindle inposition :for rendering the spindle substantially continuous :for recordunloading :or for manual operation .of the phonograph;

Fig. =9 is an inverted plan view showing mechanism associated with thelateral support of the player :arm in its condition when the recordsupport :is :set vfor :records of smaller size;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section of the spindle:and associated parts in unloading or manual position;

Fig. 11 "is a fragmentary inverted plan view, partly in section of "the:mechanism showing the player :arm manipulating mechanism holding theplayer arm in :its outward position .at an intermediate 13011117101.:the record .changing operatiQn;

Fig. 212 is -:a similar ivicw of part :of the mechanism shown :in Fig.:11 :on .a larger scale;

Fig. i13=is"a-:vi'ew similar to '12 showing the manner in which theplayer arm is automatically {carried outwardly, and

Fig. -14 "is a sectional elevation of the phonograph showingparticularly the player :arm

' port 24. The-phonograph is-drivenrby azmotor fi which drives:filrlibbel ztiredi'idler $2.6 engaging the depending flange 12'! so!the turntable i2 3. The

turntable isprovlded-with .a central-boss 28 which is provided withteeth'29 and nonrotatably engages J8, diSG 3 'Wllih is provided with aplurality board 26 around an opening 34 in the motor board.

The spindle 2| comprises an upper portion 35,

an intermediate portion 35 and a lower. portion 37 which is in the formof a sleeve. Its lower end is stepped and is seated in the lower end ofthe bracket 33, being secured thereto-by a nut. 33. The boss 28 of theturntable is provided with .or applied thereto.

the upper portion 35 so that the three parts of the spindle are inalignmentor in continuity so that records may be freely removed fromthe'turntable As will hereinafter be explained this condition of thespindle is controlled by the position of the lateral support 24 whenthat support is moved into its unloading position clear of the path tobe taken by records to be removed sleeve bushings 39 which engage theexterior of the sleeve 31.

The intermediate portion 36 of the spindle 2| is secured at its lowerend to a sleeve 46 which is rotatably mounted within the sleeve 31. Thesleeve 40 extends below the nut 38 and at its lower end it has rigidlysecured thereto a boss The upper end of the boss engages the end of thesleeve 37 so that the intermediate portion 36' of the spindle 2| abutsagainst the upper end of the sleeve 31. The intermediateportion 36 islocated at a slight angle to the vertical and it is provided with avertical bore 42 which consequently makes a slight angle with thelongitudinal direction of the portion 35. The upper and lower faces ofthe intermediate portion 36 are horizontal so that they make a similarslight angle to the transverse direction of the intermediate portion.The upper portion 35 of the spindle 2| is rigidly secured to a rod 43which extends downwardly through the bore 42 and through thesleeve 43.At its lower end, which projects beyond the sleeve 46 the rod 43 rigidlycarries a sleeve 44 which carries two radial parallel spaced arms 45 and46. The upper arm 45 carries a projection 41 which extends into avertical slot at the lower end of a bar 48 which rigidly depends fromthe bracket 33 so as to hold or out of continuity with the upper portion35 so i as to provide a record supporting step 46 as shown in Figs. 2, 3and 4:; Near its lower end the upper portion 35 of the spindle 2| isprovided with a shoulder 56 which is located the thickness of a recordof smaller size above the lower extremity of the portion 35.The'lowerextremity of the upper portion 35 below theshoulder 5B isconformed so that it lies within the circle defined by the upper end ofthe intermediate portion '35 so that the lowermost record of a stack ofrecords resting on the step 49 can be moved so that its central openingis moved out of alignment with the upper portion'35 and into alignmentwith the intermediate portion36'. The boss -44 is mounted on the rod .43so that the rod 43 can be moved up slightly carryingthe upper portion'35of the spindle 2| from its position in Fig. 3 into its position in Fig.4, increasing the vertical distance between the step 49 and the shoulder5|] to adapt the spindle for records of larger size which have somewhatgreater thickness. When the inter- 10, the upper end of the intermediateportion 35 is brought into alignment or into continuity with;

from the turntable.

The boss 4| is provided with a circumferential groove 5| which receivesone end of a bar 52. This end of the bar is provided with a slot 53, theedges of the slot extending into the groove 5| so as-slidably to supportthis end of the bar 52. At its outer end the slot is enlarged asindicated at 54 for assembly of the bar with the boss 4| This end of thebar 52 carries a parallel web 55 which is located between the two arms'and 45. The bar 52 is actuated by manipulation of the lateral support24. When the support 24 is located for supporting records of larger size(Fig. l) the bar 52 has the position shown in Fig. '7 and in Fig. 4. Inthis position an upper projection 56 on the web engages the arm 45 sothat the upper portion 35 of the spindle 2| is elevated as shownin Fig.4 to adapt the spindle for records of the larger size. When the lateralsupport 24 is adjusted into'position for records of smaller size the bar52 has the position shown in Figs. 9 and 3 and a lower projection 51 onthe web 55 engages the lower arm 46 so that the upper portion 35 of thespindle 2i is held seated on the intermediate portion 35 adapting thespindle for the thickness of the smaller records. On its upper sideadjacent the slot 53 the arm 52 carries a rack 58 which engages a pinion59 integral with the boss 4|. When the lateral support 24 is adjustedinto its unloading or manual position the bar 52 is moved into itsposition shown in Figs. 8 and 10 and the-rack 58 rotates the boss 4| andthe intermediate section 36 of the spindle'2l into the position shown inFig. 10, the spindle 2| being now continuous for the facile removal andapplication of records from and on the turntable. Return of the lateralsupport 24 to either of its operating positions rotates the intermediatesection 36 so as to bring the step 49 into operating position as shownin Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The position of the intermediate section 36 and itsstep 49 is identical in both positions of the lateral support 24 forrecords of larger and smaller size. Owing to the different obliquity ofthe bar 52 in these two positions (Figs, '7 and 9) the projections 55and 57 are brought into proper position for adjusting the upper section35 for the size'of records for which the lateral support 24' is set.

' The boss 4| carries an upwardly directed arm- 60 which rotates with itaround the bracket 33. When the lateral support 24 is adjusted into theunloading or .manual position the bar- 52 is brought into the positionshown in Fig. 8 to rotate the intermediate portion 36 into its positionin Fig 10. This movement carries the arm into position below a dog 6|carried by a cam gear 62 as shown in Fig. 10. This position of the arm'60 prevents descent of the dog 6| so that the cam gear is'maintainedout of operation and the machine can be operated manually as an ordinarynon-automatic phonograph as will be understood from the. subsequentdescription.

'. The lateral support 24 is suitably formed of flat stock and is ofgeneral L-shaped form providing. a short arm 63 for supporting largerrecords and a longer arm 64 for supporting smaller records. The lateralsupport 24 .is

substantially 180.

rigidly mounted on a vertical sleeve '65 which "is rotatably mounte'dina standard 66' mounted 'on the motor:.board"20 and located beyond theturneach -arm 63-and '64 is provided with a pair of upwardly displacedhorns 61 so as to provide two spaced supports for a stack of records. Apair of ejector bars 68 and 69 extend outwardly towards' the centeroftheends of :the arms .93 and '64 respectively. The outer ends of thesebars may be guided in iloops "I and "II stamped up from the stock of the"lateral support :24. The inner ends of the "bars 68 and 69 arepivotally connected to acrank pin I2 which-extendsupwardlyfroma crankdisc I3. The crankdisc is carried by a-rod'14 which is rotatably mountedwithin the sleeve 65. In operation 1 the effective bar -68 -or 69, thatis the bar'which is directed towards -=the spindle, is retracted.During'the record-changing operation the rod I4 is oscillated sothat the'e'fiective bar isprojected inthe man ner shown for the bar 98in Fig. 5so that the lowermost record of the stack is displaced towards thespindle moving its central opening out ofalignmentwith the upper portionof the spindle 2.1 into alignment with'the intermediate portion 36 ofthesspindle and moving thelowermost--record clear of the supportinghorns 61 so that-the lowermost record is freed to drop onto theturntable. 'The'bars .68 and 69 arelocated so that they can only engagethe lowermost record of the stack. When the lowermostrecord of the stackis thus discharged the remaining records of the stack move downwardly sothat the stack is again supported by the step 49 and rigidly carries astop member 15 which is of general "horseshoe shape. 'The ends of thiselement are turned downwardly to provide stops The member I5 is providedwith threeup- I8. wardly directed recesses 'II which are located 90apart. The'member 15 carries a projecting stop I8 the purpose'of whichwill hereinafter be described. The sleeve fiiextends below the lower:end of the standard 66 and has rigidly mounted thereon-a member 19. Thebar 52 is pivotally mounted to the under side of the member '19.

The member "I9 carries a T-shaped member 530 which is adapted to engagethe stops 16 so asto limit the movementof the lateral support 24 to Themember carries an upwardly directed V spring BI which is adapted toenter'any ofthe recesses I1 and resiliently hold the lateral-support -24inanyof its threepositi'ons 'for records of either size and forunloading for manual operation. The lower web i of the mom.-

ber 'I=9 carries an l p-turned abutment I9 "which is in the same planeasthe stop F8. The purpose -of this abutment will hereinafter bedescribed.

The-rod-Hextends below the sleeve 65 and at its lowerenditrigidlycarriesan arm 82 to which-is "pivotally connected a link 83 which -efi?ec'tsthe oscillation of the crank disc I3.

The player arm 22 is pivotally mounted on an arm 85 which is rigidlycarried by a sleeve 89. I The sleeve 86 'isrotatably mounted in astandard ried. by the arm 85 provides adjustment ior the needlepressure.

At its lower end the sleeve 86 rigidly carries two arms 88 and 89. "Theouter :endzm' the .arm -88 :zisitanered :and normally tends to en age"an lip-turned detent 90 on a .frame Ilcrer 9| -=whichiis-pivotallymounted on arod 92 rilependingiirom :themotor board. The lever 9! isbiasseid :by a spring :93 into its normal position which :is defined bythe engagement of one end of thelever .against the flange of thezmotorrboard 20 as rshownin Fig. 7. When the lever is inthis'positionand the player arm is smiling outwardly ito its extreme position thetapered .endof "the .arm 88 engages the detent 9,0 sothat-the player armis latched out-in this extreme :jposition. "Owingto the tapered end of"the arm 88 the player ;arm may be moved'in- -wardly again by slightforce. 'I'he'arm 89 carries "an upwardly projectin pin 94 near its axisand its free zendris of:arcuateform as shown-at 95in Fig. 11. The outeredge of the arcuate portion 95 is p ovided with serrations 98. At its.lower :sideitherarcuate"portion 95 of the arm 89 adjust- :ablycarries-an abutment 9.1.

The player arm 22 carries :an adjustable estop "iiiiwhich is arranged tobe engaged by a rod 99 which slidabl-y extends through the sleeve .86.The lower end .of this rod rests on a cam surface I;0IJ which is formedon a generally horizontal flange 'IOI carried by a depending web I02which is integral with one endofa link I03. This end .of the linkis-provided with a slot I04 which receives a collar I 05 rigidly carriedby the lower :end of the standard 81 which projects-through .an openingin the ,motor board 20. Projections I06 on the collar I05 providesupport for this end .of'the link I03. Whenthe link I03jis moved out-.wardiy its cam surface I00 elevates the rod 99 so that the player armiselevated from the record and thereafter-a. shoulder I01 on the'link I03engages the pin 94 so as to swing theplayer arm outwardly into itsextreme position. This occurs during automatic operation and a shoulderI08 on the web I02 of :the link I03 engages the lever "9| so :as tocarry its detent 90 away from the arm .88 as shown in Fig. 12.Consequently the player arm is not latched in its outward positionexcept when themachine is being used as a man- :ual record player.

"The cam disc 13.and'theinner ends of the bars 68 andt9 areenclosed in ahousing I09. vA housing I.I.0carried on the housing I09 encloses a coil:spring 'I IiI which applies upward pressure on a flangedcylindricalseat H2. The seat II2 serves as the lower seat for a ball I I3. Theupper seat 5T0! the ball :I I3 is provided around an opening I114 at theapex-of an outer housing II5. This :housing is. of general Leshapedformand its arms extend over the-arms SBand 69. The outer ends ofthehousing .I I5 are open andthey arelocated clear of the recorciswhicharesupported on the step 149 and the horns 0]. An arm H6 is in-Ftegral'with-the -ball 3 which is providedwitha {semi-circumferentialribI I] which 'is engaged by the upper flange .of the seat H2. The apex ofithe housing II5 iszprovided with slots IIB which extend acrosstheopening H4 and are directed in Fthe'longitudinal-direction ofthe twoarms of -the jhousing H5. *iIfhese .slots normally accommodate the arm II6 {and this arm maybe moved irom one slot -to the other by raising itagainst "the compression of :thespring III and turning aroundfromoneposition-tothe other. The arm 115 is located relatively to therib II'I so that when the arm :is in either of the slots II8 the outerend of the :arm :is ibiassedtowards :a position below that:of:5thelowermost record supported on the h-orns 6 1. Thus the arm I16 firmlyseats the port for playing records of the larger size.

tial part of therecord changing cycle.- During stack of records on thelateral support. When it is desired to apply a stack of records on themachine the arm H6 is swung upwardly and after the stack of records isproperly seated on the step 49 and the horns 61, the arm H6 is releasedso that it applies its pressure on the topmost record on the stack.

The mechanism for moving the player arm inwardly into initial playingposition for either size of records will now be described. Thismechanism comprises a lever I I9 which is pivotally mounted on the lowerend-of the standard 81 below the motor board by means of collars I20 andI2I. One end of the lever H9 is connected to the spring 93 so that theother end of the lever is biassed towards the pin 94 which moves withthe player arm. This end of the lever II9 comprises a lower end portionI22 whichis arranged to be arrested by the stop 18 or by the abutment19' when that abutment is located in cooperative relation by locatingthe lateral sup- The position of the abutment 19' in the twelve inchposition is shown in Fig. '7. When the lateral support is in the teninch position as shown in Fig. 9 the abutment 19 is removed out of thepath of the end I22 of the lever- I-I9 so that in this case the leverengages the stationary stop 19 after the spring 93 has swung the lever Hthrough a greater distance. The pin 94 is caused to move a greaterdistance inwardly so that the needle is carried into initial playingposition for a ten inch record.

On the upper side of the lever H9 I pivotally mount by means of a pivotI23 :a lever having three arms I24, I25 and I26-.- The arm I25 isconnected by a spring I21 .to the lever I I9 .so that the three armedlever is biassed towards its position in Fig. 12 with the arm I25engaging an up-turned lug I 28 on the lever I I9. The arm I26 is hookedso as to grasp lightly the pin 94 as this pin is being carried outwardlyby the shoulder I01 in the manner shown in Fig. 12. Before being carriedinto engagement with the edge of the lever H9 the pin 94 engages a lightspring I29 carried on the upper side of the lever H9. The purpose ofthis spring is to apply a slight pressure on the pin 94 and consequentlyon the player arm so that the needle is carried into the recordinggroove on the record when the pin 94 is released by the hooked arm I26.After compressing the light spring I29 the pin 94 engages the lever H9and carries it to its outermost position tensioning the spring 93 toprovide the energy for returning the player arm to its initialpositionwith the hooked arm gripping the pin 94. 2 2

the latter part of the record changingcycle the link I 93 returns to itsnormal position and at the final stage of its return a detent I30 turnedup of a spring I39.

upper side of the cam gear 62.

Consequently when the three armed lever is actuated by the detent I todisengage the pin 94 the weak spring I29 applies a slight push to thepin 94 so as to bring the needle into the recording groove.

When the machine is used as a manually operated record player the camgear 62 is held out of operation and the link I03 is in its innermostposition with its detent I30 bearing against the curved surface I3I ofthe arm I24. For manual playing the player arm is manually moved out toits outermost position. The three armed lever is consequently carriedfurther bodily in the clockwise direction than is shown in Fig. 9 sothat a shoulder I32 atthe inner end of the curved surface I3I engagesthe detent 130. Since this shoulder is substantially at right angles tothe line joining it to its pivot I23 the lever H9 is held inoperativelyin its extreme position so that it has no effect-on the player arm. Thiscondition continues until the machine is again put into automaticoperation whereupon the first outward movement of the link I03disengages the detent I30 from the shoulder I32.

The cam gear 62 is mounted for free rotation on a stub axle I33depending from the motor board. The gear is provided with peripheralteeth which mesh with the teeth 29 on the boss 28 of the turntableduring the record changing cycle. These teeth are interrupted at I34 andthis interruption is opposite the teeth 29 during the playing of arecord so that the cam gear 62 is out of operation during reproduction.-The cam gear is resiliently held in stationary position by means of aroller I35 which is biassed into a recess I36 on an abutment carried onthe under side of the gear. The roller I35 is carried by a lever I31pivotally mounted on a pin I38 depending from the motor board 20. Thelever I31 is biassed into operating position by means A stop I40 struckdown from the motor board serves as an abutment for the lever I31. Thedog H is mounted in radial direction by means of a pivot I4I (Fig. 10).The

dog GI is provided with an upwardly directed arm I42 which is arrangedto be engaged by a latch I43 which is pivotally mounted at I44 on theThe latch I43 is biassed towards latching position by aspring I45. Thelatch I43 has pivotally mounted thereon a dog I46 which is adapted toengage the serrations 96 on the arm 89 as that arm moves inwardly duringreproduction. When the player arm is subjected to reverse movement dueto the needle becoming located in an eccentric terminal groove, the dogI46 is actuated so as to swing the latch into unlatched positionallowing the dog 6| to drop by gravity bringing a finger I41 on-the doginto the path of one of the proat the end of the link I03 engages acurved surplaying position determined by itsengagement with the stop 18or the abutment 19' depending upon the setting of the lateral support.Before the detent I30 engages thearm I24 the pin 99 has ridden down thecam I00 so that the needle engagement with the record ,to be played.-

jections 3I which applies rotation to thegear 62 bringing its teeth intomesh with the teeth 29 on the boss 23 of the turntable.

Thecam gear 62 is thus driven through a complete revolution. During thisrevolution the under side of the dog is engaged by a cam formation I43on the lever I31 so that the dog is again latched up. Conto actuate thelatch into unlatching position when the player arm is carried inwardlyby a record having a spiral terminal groove. The

latch I143 is provided with; 2.; depending; flange.

I50 which is arranged to cooperate with areturn bend on the end of. aflexible; rod II. final stage of its single revolution the flange I50displaces the end of the rod I5I- and moves past.

it. The rod I5I is connected to amanually actuated control lever I52 andit is supported in an opening in a lug I53 depending from the motorboard. Only its inner outwardly turned end is bent downwardly into thepath of the flange I50. In the playing position thefiange I50 is belowthe outturned end of the rod 5| as viewed in Fig. l and it will readilybe; apparent that downward movement of the lever I52 as viewed in thisfigure unlatches the latch I43 and initiates a record changing cycle.link I03, that is the endremote from the; player arm mounting is forkedand supported. in a grooved collar on the; axle I33 above the, cam gear62. The link I comprises a tongue I3I.' which carries on its; under sidea cam follower I54 which extendsinto a, cam track I55 on the upper sideof the cam gear 62. This: cam truck is of general heart-shapedformation. During playing when the cam gear 62. is at rest. the camfollower I54 is near the center of the cam. Initial and final movementsof the cam gear 62 are accompanied by rapid outward. and inward movementof the link I03 and during a large intermediate period of the, rotationof the cam gear 62 the link I03 is held stationary in its outer positionso that the playerarm is held out until after the new record has beendropped.

The inner end of the link 83 is similarly mounted on the axle I33 belowthe cam gear 62. This link carries an upwardly extending cam followerI56 which extends upwardly into a cam track I5'I on the under side ofthe cam gear 62. When the cam gear 62 is at rest the cam follower I56 isin its position nearest the center of the cam gear so that the link 83is normally in its outermost position. The cam track I51 is also ofgeneral heart-shaped formation but it provides no rest movingthe link 83inwardly and then immediately outwardly. The effective bar 68 or 69 isconsequently actuated to discharge a record while the player arm isinits-outward position clear of the falling record.

The motor 25 is controlled by a switch I50 which is bodily carried on.the under side of a plate I59 which is integral with the control leverI52. The lever I52 is pivotally mounted at I60 on the under side. of themotor board and the plate I58 is slidably supported by grooved studsI6I. The plate I59 carries a button I62 which extends through a slot I63to the upper side of the motor board. Around this slot is mounted anescutcheon plate I64 which bears indicia indicating the position of thecontrol lever. The switch I58 is provided with an actuating arm I65which is provided with two horns I66 and I6! which cooperate with astationary pin I68 depending from the motor board 20. The arm I65 isshown in the on position in Fig. 7 the horn I66 bearing against the pinI68. The spring l39 is connected to the control lever I52 at a veryoblique angle so that this spring is unable to snap the switch to offposition and consequently the switch holds the control lever I52- in theon position. In this position of the switch the lever I52 may be swungoutwardly to reject position, the horn I61 of the switch arm I65clearing the pin I68. This outward movement of the control lever movesthe rod I5I downwardly as viewed in Fig. 1 tripping the latch I In the.

The inner end of the.

10' I43 and init a n a. record. chan ing, cycle o that a. newrecord canbe played without await-a ing the complete rendition of a record. Whenthe button I62 is released the spring I39 returns the control lever I52to the on position with the horn I66 of the switch arm- I65 abuttingagainst the pin I60 as shown in Fig. 7. To stop the machine the buttonI62 is moved to its innermost position which moves the lever I52 bodilydownward as viewed in Fig. 7. The stationary pin I68 consequently causesthe switch arm I65 to rotate clockwise as viewed in this figure and theswitch arm snaps into the off position with the horn I67projectingbehind the pin I68 ready to be actuated thereby on the nextout-.

ward movement of the lever I52 to put the machine into operation again.

The operation is as follows. To play a stack of twelve-inch records therecord support 24 is swung manually into its position in Fig. l and thearm H6 is directed inwardly towards the spindle 2| as shown in thatfigure. This position of the lateral support 24 locates the link 52 inits position in Fig. 7, so that the intermediate 7 portion 36 of thespindle is located as shown in Fig. .4 providing the step 49 on the sideof the spindle remote from the lateral support 24. This position of thelink 52, brings theprojeotion 56 into engagementwith the upper arm 45 sothat the'upper section 35 of the spindle is elevated slightly so as tolocate the shoulder 59 above the step 49 an amount suitable for thethickness of; twelve-inch records. A stack of twelve-inch records is nowapplied to the upper section 35 of the post with this section extendingthrough the central openings of the records. The stack is now broughtinto supported relation with the step 69 and the horns 67 of the arm 63of the lateral support 24, the lever H6 being held up manually untilafter the records are thus located. This lever is now released so thatit holds the stack firmly seated on the arm 63. The button I62 is nowmoved fromthe off position through the play or on position into thereject position thus starting the motor and tripping the latch I43 sothat the cam gear 62 is driven through a complete revolution. When themachine is put out of operation the operator stops the motor andmanually moves the player arm outwardly to its extreme position.Consequently the arm 88. is resiliently latched out by the lever 9| andthe player arm return lever I I9 is latched out by engagement of thedetent I30 with the shoulder I32 on the three armed lever. The initialoutward movement of the link I03 unlatches the three armed lever so thatthe hooked arm I26 grasps the pin 94. The initial movement of the linkE63 also raises the player arm by means of its cam surface I00 and theplayer arm remains in its outward position, the lever 9| holding theplayer arm and the lever II9 latched out against the tension of thespring 93. The continuing outward movement of the link I03 brings theshoulder I01 into engagement with the pin 94 and brings the shoulder I08into engagement with the lever 9i so that the lever H9 is freed tofollow the pin 94 and the shoulder I0I inwardly during the return of thelink I03. This inward movement of the lever I I9 under the influence ofthe spring 93 continues until the lever II9 engages the abutment I9which was located in its position in Fig. 7 by setting the lateralsupport 24. in the twelve inch position. The inward movement of thelever I I9 is thus arrested when the player arm is in initial playingposition for a twelve inch record. The player arm is now held in thisposition by the slight detent or hooking action of the arm I26 while thelink I03 moves inwardly withdrawing the shoulder I'I out of the path ofthe pin 94. Towards the end of its inward movement the cam I00 allowsthe rod 99 to descendso that the player arm moves downwardly to bringthe stylus into engagement with the record on the turntable andimmediately thereafter the detent I30 engages the curved surface |3| ofthe arm I24 swinging the three armed lever in clockwise direction asviewed from below and withdrawing the arm I26 from the pin 94. The lightspring I29 now becomes effective to apply a slight push to the pin 94and to the player arm so that its needle is brought into the recordinggroove. During the rotation of the cam gear 62 the dog 6| is recocked bythe cam surface I48 on the lever I31 and when the interruption I34registers with the boss of the turntable the roller I35 enters therecess I36 and holds the cam gear 62 stationary during the rendition ofthe record.

At the end of the playing of the first record the arm 89 trips the latchI43 so that the dog 6| again descends and the cam gear 62 is caused tomake another complete revolution to apply another record on to theturntable for reproduction. In this revolution the link I03 movesoutwardly quite rapidly and the first action which it eifects is toraise the player arm from the record by means of its cam I00. Theshoulder I01 then engages the pin 94 so that the player arm is movedoutwardly. The lever H9 is in abutting relation with the abutment I9 andthe outward movement of the pin 94 brings this pin into latchedengagement with the hooked arm I26. The spring I29 is moved outwardlyand the pin 94 engages the lever 9 so as to swing it outwardly. Theshoulder I08 engages the lever 9| so as to maintain it unlatched untilthe arm 88 clears this lever as the player arm begins its inwardmovement. The lever 9| is only effective to latch out the player armwhen the player arm is moved outward manually when the shoulder I08 isout of engagement with the lever 9|. The return movement of the link I03effects the application of the needle to the record in exactly the samemanner as has just been described in connection with the first record.The cycle continues until all the records have been dropped andreproduced whereupon the machine is stopped manually by moving thebutton I62 upwardly as viewed in Fig. 1.

During each rotation of the cam gear the link 83 is actuated by the camtrack I51 so that the crank disc I3 is oscillated so that the rejectorbar 68 is actuated so as to discharge the lowermost record of the stack01f the step 49 and the horns 61 of the arm 63. As has been previouslydescribed the cam tracks I55 and I! are correlated so that the record isdropped while the player arm is being held out in its outermostposition.

After the machine is stopped and the player arm is manually movedoutwardly into latched condition the record support is rotated in thecounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 through an angle of 180.This brings the record support clear of the path of the records to belifted off the turntable and it also locates the link 52 in its positionin Fig. 8 rotating the intermediate section 36 of the spindle 2| intoits position in Fig. 10 so that the stack of records on the turntablemay be removed by lifting them up, the spindle'2l being now continuous.

To play a. stack of ten-inch records the record support 24 is located sothat its longer arm 64 is directed towards the spindle 2 In thisposition of the record support 24 the abutment I9 is moved out of thepath of the lever I I9 so that during the record changing cycle the armI I9 engages the stop 18 so that the player arm is carried into initialplaying position for ten-inch records. The ten inch position of therecord support 24 locates the link 52 in its positions in Figs. 9 and 3locating the step 49 on the side of the spindle remote from the recordsupport 24 and bringing the projection 51 on the link 52 into engagementwith the lower arm 46 so that the upper portion 35 of the spindle isseated on the intermediate section 36 and the shoulder 50 is locatedabove the seat 49 by a distance suitable for the thickness of ten-inchrecords. With the exception of the fact that the lever ||9 cooperateswith the stop I8 instead of the abutment I9, to locate the player arm atinitial playing position for a ten inch record, the operation isidentical with the described operation for playing twelve-inch records.

For manual operation the lateral support 24 is moved into the dischargeposition and consequently the spindle 2| is rendered continuous as inFig. 10 so that a single record may now be applied to and removed fromthe turntable in the manner of a non-automatic phonograph. The arm 60 islocated below the dog 6| as shown in Fig. 10 so that the cam gear 62 iskept out of operation. The operator carries the player arm into itsoutermost position and the player arm is latched out yieldably by theengagement of the lever 9| with the tapered arm 88. This latching ispermitted because the shoulder I08 on the link I03 is in its innermostposition. The outward movement of the player arm swings the lever H9 inclockwise direction as viewed from below and bodily swings the threearmed lever so that its shoulder I32 engages the detent I30, this detentbeing located in operative relation to the arm I24 also due to theinward position of the link I03. Consequently the lever H9 is preventedfrom actuating the player arm and this condition continues until thelink I03 is moved outwardly again on the next automatic record changingcycle. It will therefore be understood that the player arm is free formanual operation in the usual manner of nonautomatic phonographs and themachine can be put into operation as an ordinary phonograph by merelymoving the button I62 into the play position.

Although the invention has been described in connection with thespecific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must beunderstood that such details are not intended to be limitative of theinvention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention I declare that what I claim is:

1. In an automatic phonograph, a record supporting spindle comprising anupper section, a lower section and an intermediate section, the lowersection being in the form of a sleeve, a sleeve rotatably mounted in thelower section rigidly secured to the intermediate section, a rodextending through the last mentioned sleeve and through the intermediatesection and rigidly supporting the upper section, said intermediatesection being rotatable into one position to locate it in substantialcontinuity with both the up- 'per and lower sections and into anotherposition in which it is in substantial continuity with the lower sectionand out of continuity with the upper section so as to provide a recordsupporting step at its upper end, a shoulder on the upper section at ahigher level than the step to permit the lowermost of a stack of recordssupported on said step with the upper section extending through theircentral openings, to be displaced out of alignment with the uppersection and into alignment with the intermediate section and clear ofthe step, means at the lower end of the spindle for rotating the secondmentioned sleeve to move the intermediate section from one position tothe other, means at the lower end of the spindle for holding said rodagainst rotation, and means at the lower end of the spindle fordisplacing said rod in the vertical direction to locate the shoulder atdifferent levels above the step to adapt the spindle for cooperationwith records of difierent thickness.

2. In an automatic phonograph, in combination, a turntable, a recordsupporting spindle extending upwardly from the center of the turntablecomprising an upper section, a lower section and an intermediatesection, the lower section being in the form of a sleeve, a sleeverotatably mounted in the lower section rigidly secured to theintermediate section, a rod extending through the last mentioned sleeveand through the intermediate section and rigidly supporting the uppersection, means for holding said rod and upper section against rotation,said intermediate section being rotatable into one position to locate itin substantial continuity with both the upper and lower sections andinto another position to locate it in substantial continuity with thelower section and out of continuity with the upper section so as toprovide a record supporting step at its upper end, a lateral supportarranged to cooperate with said step to support a stack of records abovethe turntable, said lateral support being movable into inoperativeposition clear of the records, and means operatively connecting thelateral support to the second mentioned sleeve to locate theintermediate section in its first mentioned position when the lateralsupport is in its inoperative position and to locate the intermediatesection in its second mentioned position when the lateral support is inits stack supporting position, a shoulder on the upper section at ahigher level than the step to permit the lowermost of the stack ofrecords supported on said step with the upper section extending throughtheir central openings,

to be displaced out of alignment with the upper in section and intoalignment with the intermediate section and clear of the step.

3. In an automatic phonograph, in combination, a turntable, a recordsupporting spindle extending upwardly from the center of the turntablecomprising an upper section, a lower section and an intermediatesection, the lower section being in the form of a sleeve, a sleevemounted in the lower section rigidly secured to the intermediatesection, a rod extending through the last mentioned sleeve and throughthe intermediate section and rigidly supporting the upper section, meansfor holding saidrod and upper section against rotation, saidintermediate section being rotatable into one position to locate it insubstantial continuity with both the upper and lower sections and intoanother position to locate it in substantial continuity with the lowersection and out of continuity with the upper section so as to provide arecord sunportins stem at its upper end,

a lateral support arranged in one position to cooperate with said stepto support a stack of records of a certain size above the turntable,arranged in another position to cooperate with said step to support astack of records of another size above the turntable, and arranged inanother position to be clear of the record stacks position, and meansoperatively connecting the lateral support to the second mentionedsleeve to locate the intermediate section in its second mentionedposition when the lateral support is in either its first or secondmentioned positions and to locate the intermediate'section in its firstmentioned position when the lateral support is in its third mentionedposition.

4. In an automatic phonograph, in combination, a turntable, a recordsupporting spindle extending upwardly from the center of the turntablecomprising an upper section, a lower section and an intermediatesection, the lower section being in the form of a sleeve, a sleevemounted in the lower section rigidly secured to the intermediatesection, a rod extending through the last mentioned sleeve and throughthe intermediate section and rigidly supporting the upper section, meansfor holding said rod and upper section against rotation, saidintermediate section being rotatable into one position to locate it insubstantial continuity with both the upper and lower sections and intoanother position to locate it in substantial continuity with the lowersection and out of continuity with the upper section so as to provide arecord supporting step at its upper end, a lateral support arranged inone position to cooperate with said step to support a stack of recordsof a certain size above the turntable, arranged in another position tocooperate with said step to support a stack of records of another sizeabove the turntable, and arranged in another position to be clear of therecord stack position, means operatively connecting the lateral supportto the second mentioned sleeve to locate the intermediate section in itssecond mentioned position when the lateral support is in either itsfirst or second mentioned positions and to locate the intermediatesection in its first mentioned position when the lateral support is inits third mentioned position, a shoulder on the upper section at ahigher level than the step to permit the lowermost of the stack ofrecords supported on said step and said lateral support to be displacedout of alignment with the upper section and into alignment with theintermediate section and clear of the step, and means operativelyconnecting said lateral support to said rod to effect verticaldisplacement of the rod, last said means being arranged in either thefirst two mentioned positions of the lateral support to locate saidshoulder for cooperation with records of the thickness for which thelateral support is set.

CARL G. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,293,212 Offen Aug. 18, 19422,328,703 Becwar Sept. 7, 1943 2,355,790 Faulkner Aug. 15, 19442,371,362 Small Mar. 13, 1945 2,374,080 Dale Apr. 1'7, 1945 2,394,539Erwo'od et a1 Feb.:12,' 1946

